Joseph



'(No Model.)

J 0. WITMBR. v COMBINED STEERING DEVICE AND BRAKE FOR VESSELS.

Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

N. PETERScPhm-Lilnomphen Wi mington. D. C.

' in shallow water.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOsErH o. wrrnnn, OF s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JOHN B. BREUEGGEMANN, or SAME PLACE.

COMBINED STEERING DEVICE AND BRAKE FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,771, dated August 2, 1887.

Application filed March 3, 1887. Serial No.2-2f),fi37. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH O. XVITMER, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, havein vented certain new and useful Improve ments in Combined Steering Devices and Brakes for Vessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, having reference to the drawings forming part of this specification, and in which Figure I is a side view of a schooner with ny improved double-action steering and brake 'teviee. Fig. II is a section on line II II, Fig.

. showing the cooperative pulleys keyseated a the vertical ruddershaft-s and the endless 1 .-;nd or chain that gives them simultaneous co-operation. Fig. III is a top view showing he tiller-wheel with the bevel piniongear for turning-the rudders and the index-vanes to tenote their position. It also shows the crank mdlifting device that elevate the rudders into their boxing, and so retires them from danger Fig. IV is a section on line IV 1V, Fig. ll, showing the operation of the tiller-wheel and bevel-pinion gearing in turn ing the rudders, and the keys on the ruddershaft that seat t-hemsclvcs'in the bevel gearwheel that turns the shaft, and the pulleywheel that, with its corresponding pulley, carries the band. It also shows the position below deck of the cooperative pulleys that, with the endless band that connects them, give simultaneous action to both rudders, and the stntiing-bo'x that closes the top of the watertight sleeve around the rudder-shaft. Fig. V is aflsection on line V V, Fig. III, showing the crank and pulley device for elevating the rudder and the keys on the shaft that seat themselves in the bevel-geared wheel and pulley when the shaft is lowered into operative position. Fig. VI is a bottom View showing relative positions of the double-action rudders; and Fig. VII is a detail section on line VII VII, Fig. I, showing the position of the rudder within its boxing and the tubular sleeve that surrounds its vertical shaft to prevent leakage in connection with the rudder-chamber. v

My invention relates to devices for combined double-action rudders and brakes for vessels; and theinvention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar figures of reference indicate like parts in all the views, 1 represents a schooner to which is attached my double-action combined rudders and brakes. 2 are the rudders; 3, the ruddershafts; 4-, the rudder chambers; 5, the watertight casings or sleeves around the shafts, and 6 the stut'tingbox that closes the top of the water-tight sleeve around the. ruddershaft.

It will be observed that the rudder-chambers 4 are located in the line of the keelson and between thestem and the stern-post of the vessel, so that when the rudders 2 are in their lowermost position, as shown in Fig. I, they will project below the keel of the boat. 7 are co-operative pulleys on the rudder shafts, and 8 S are projections on said shafts that, when they are lowered to their operative positions, key into recesses 9 9, relatively in the bevel-geared wheels and cooperative pulleys, thus at each time rigidifying the connection of the shaft to said geared wheel and pulleys. An'endless band or chain (either may be used) has cross connection with the co-operative pulleys, so that when the tiller wheel is turned it not only operates the rudder-shaft, with which it directly connects by its bevelgearing, but also, through said cooperating-pulleys and their drive-hand, Slmultaneously operates the other rudder-shaft in a reverse direction, so as to have a twofold action in wearing the vessel, and when turned transversely with its line of progress a twofold brake to arrest its progress and preventcollisions, &c.

The endless belt may either be run altogether loose on the pulleys, or it may be secured by staplesSS to each pulley, as then it would still have full latitude for the action of the rudders or the brakes.

11 is the deck of the vessel, immediately beneath which the pulleys with their drive chain or band work. The vertical rudder-shafts pass through the deck and ascend through short tubular pedestals 12, that are seated on said (leek.

18 is the tiller-wheel, and 14. the handles by which said wheel is worked. On the pedestal in. connection with which the tiller-wheel works there rests a horizontal bevel-geared wheel, 15, in which meshes a bevel-pinion, 16,

located on the end of the tiller-wheel shaft 17. On the other pedestal, through which the cooperative ruddershat't passes, is an ungeared stationary wheel or disk, 18.

\Vhen the ruddershafts are in operative position,-they are key-seated in the bevelgeared wheel and also in the pulley-wheels 7; and as the endless band connects the two pulleys, it follows that by turning the tillerwheel both rudders aresimultaneously turned to wear the vessel relatively to either the starboard or larboard tack,and by turning the tiller-wheel still farther the brakes are set by the rudder blades being brought straight across the track;

Frames 19, secured in the pedestals 12, have two vertical arms, and 21., and carry the de vices for elevating the rudders within their retiring-chambers 4t when it is desired to protect them from accident in shallow water. Collars or caps 22, which are secured by screwbolts 23 to the upper ends of the rudder-shafts, have vertical arms 24., which carry pulleywheels 25, that run in bearings 26 within the arms of said caps. Similar pulley-wheels, 27, run in bearings 28 in the torked arms 29 of the vertical 'posts 21 of the elevating-frames. \Vindlass-reels 30 have bearings 31 in arms 32, that extend horizontally from the feet of the elevating-frames andare turned by handcranks 33.

Bands, cords, or chains 3t (either may be used) are securely attached to the tops of the vertical arms 20 and pass under the pulleys 25 and over the pulleys 27, and from them around the windlass-reels 80. As the windlass-reels are turned by the handcranks, they 7 wind up the cords 31 and thus elevate the rudders and their shafts. \Vhen the rudders have been elevated, they arelocked in that position by placing the pin 35 in thehole 36 in the elevating-frame. Arrows or vanes 37, attached to or passing through near the upper end of the rudder-shaft and on line with the rudderblades, indicate the exact position of said blades when it is desired to place them in line with the boxings 4: preparatory to elevating them therein.

39 is a supplemental rudder of usual make, for use when the drop-rudders have been withdrawn in consequence of the vessels coasting in shallow water, or from any other cause. This extra rudder, being seldom used, may be arranged to be unshipped and taken aboard in open seas.

It will be seen that my double-action rudders, turning simultaneously in both directions, both lore and aft, will wear the vessel round very quickly. Again, it will be seen that by turning the rudders around trans versely to the track a powerful brake is provided, which, as is also the quick action in turning the vessel, are valuable features to prevent collisions with other vessels or with ice, rocks, sand-bars, 8:0. In order to accomplish this result, it is necessary that the rudder-post should be capable of turning at least one hundred and eighty degrees-i. 0., ninety degrees on either side of its normal position, or a position parallel with the keel. The rudders also serve as center-boards, and so add to the sailing qualities of the vessel, and when sailing in shallow water or over bars or sand-banks (where with a stationary keel the vessel. would be aground) my vertically-adjustable rudders can be elevated or will elevate themselves; also, it will be seen that not only has my invention, as the title implies, a twofold function as a steering apparatus and brake, but, also, it combines therewith the functions of a heel and centerboard.

I have shown and described my invention operated by'hand-power,- butl do not confine myself only to such means of operating it, as it is evident that my improved steering and brakedevices can and are sometimes intended to be worked by a donkey-engine or by any other suitable means.

I am aware that it is not new to connect by cross-cables the posts of two rudders, one situatcd in advance of the stem and one situated in rear of the sternpost, so that both may be operated simultaneously. I am also aware that it is not new to form chambers beneath the keelson and between the stem and sternpost, and to place in them center boards mounted upon stems having means for elevating and lowering them, and also means for turning said stems a limited number of degrees, so as to bring the center-board to a position not quite parallel with the keel, whereby the resistance which the center-board offers to the pressure of the wind on the sail will be increased, and I do not claim any feature or features which my invention may pos sess in common therewith.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination, with the rudder 2 and the vertically-movable rudder-shaft 3, of the pedestal 12, the gear wheel 15, supported thereby, the tiller-wheel 13, having pinion 16, gearing with thewheel 15, and the spline and groove for connecting the wheel 15 and shalt 3, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The eo1nbination,with therudderand the verticallymovable rudder'shaft 3, of the pulley 25, secured to the top of the shaft, the frame 19 2O 2l,having the pulley 27 journaled to one arm thereof, the cable 3-t,secured to one of the arms of the frame, passing under the pulley 25 and over the pulley 27, and the windlass to which said cable is attached, substantially as set forth.

- JOSEPH O. VITMER.

In presence ol'- BENIN. A. KNIGHT, SAML. KNIG T. 

